Ibiza works well with children, and the parts that make or break a week are not the ones the island is known for. They are the shape of the bay you swim in, how far the airport is from the front door, and what time you eat. We have set them out in that order.
The calmest water
Portinatx at the northern tip has three sandy coves within a few minutes of each other, all facing into a sheltered inlet, and the water is the calmest on the island. S'Arenal Gran is the only one of the three with lifeguards.
Cala Llonga on the east coast is a deep sheltered bay with shallow water a long way out and two free car parks. An amphibious wheelchair is available there from mid-June to mid- September.
Cala Pada and Es Niu Blau are the easy east-coast pair, the second with real shade from the pines.
The transfer, which matters more than it should
The airport is in the south. Playa d'en Bossa, Ses Salines and San Jose are ten to twenty minutes.Santa Eulalia and the east coast are twenty-five to thirty.Portinatx and the north are forty-five.
With small children, forty-five minutes at the end of a flight is a different arrival from fifteen. It is worth weighing against the calmer water up there.
Timing the day
Mornings on the beach, afternoons indoors. From noon to four in July and August the sun is overhead and most Ibizan beaches have no natural shade at all.
Eat early. Kitchens open at seven and fill at nine, so a seven o'clock booking is a different experience from an eight o'clock one.
Markets are an evening. Las Dalias runs a night market through the summer, and it suits children better than a restaurant does.
Things to do that are not a beach
There is a show cave at Cova de Can Marca above Port de Sant Miquel, on a forty-minute guided tour. The salt flats hold flamingos on migration. The ethnographic museum at Santa Eulalia is small enough to hold attention.
Boats from Cala Llonga, Santa Eulalia and Es Canar mean a day out without a car.
Quick answers
Which is the best beach for small children? S'Arenal Gran at Portinatx, or Cala Llonga.
How far is the airport? Ten minutes to the south coast, forty-five to the north.
Is there shade on the beaches? Rarely. Es Niu Blau and Cala Bassa are the exceptions.
What time do restaurants open? From about seven inland.
Is the sea calm? On the east and north coasts, generally yes.
Are there lifeguards? On the bigger beaches in season, not on the small coves.